Meothelioma cancer cure in making – MORAb-009 under study at Morphotek Inc

JBream Report: Malignant mesothelioma cancer that is responsible for taking lives of over 2,000 to 3,000 people annually in the US alone and over 43,000 deaths annually world over has up till now no cure other than the therapies like chemotherapy and radiation to contain the disease and temporarily prolong the life span of the mesothelioma patients. Surgery remains a debatable issue, it may help in early stages but later the possibilities of cure through surgery is not possible.

This month, Morphotek Inc. a biopharmaceutical company which the arm of Elsai Corporation of North America has undertaken the study of MORAb-009. MORAb-009 is an antibody that help in stopping the growth of mesothelin which is a protein that is excessively produced in tumors present in mesothelioma patient. The news report written by JBream states, ” Morphotek, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company and subsidiary of Eisai Corporation of North America, initiated Phase II of the study of its MORAb-009 monoclonal antibody to assess the capabilities of the drug in collaboration with the chemotherapy drugs pemetrexed and cisplatin to sustain progression-free survival for patients with locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.”

According to the news report, the Chief Medical officer of Morphotek, Martin D. Phillips commented that, “We are excited to have initiated this Phase II study of MORAb-009 in mesothelioma in cooperation with leading physician-scientists.”

The company foresees that the clinical tests will be carried out on 86 patients with locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma cancer patients who have never been treated before.

About MORAb-009:

The drug is known to stop the function of mesthelin helps in the growth of mesothelioma tumors. The drugs function as described is to first block the ability of Mesothelin to interact with the tumors and them help the patients immune system to fight with the disease with the aid of MORAb-009.

For more news visit: http://www.asbestos.com/news/2009/03/05/new-mesothelioma-clinical-trial-begins/